Inking device for a planar printing die plate

ABSTRACT

A reciprocable inking mechanism for applying ink to the printing surface of a printing die plate in a postage metering device. An ink impregnated roller is moved to and fro across the face of the die plate with each operation of the metering device. The inking roller moves in a linear path under control of a rotary drive mechanism.

United States Patent Levinson 51March 20, 1973 [54] INKING DEVICE FOR A PLANAR [56] References Cited PRINTING DIE PLATE UNITED STATES PATENTS [75] Invent Levinsm Berekeley calif- 612,873 10/1898 Scott ..lOl/l86 x 1,ll0,723 9/1914 Spiess... ..l0l/320 [73] Ass'gnee' smger Company New York 1,314,133 8/1919 Elam ..101/320 [22] Filed: April 22, 1971 Primary ExaminerJ. Reed Fisher Attorney-Charles R. Lepchinsky, Patrick J. Schles- [2!] Appl' N 136,421 inger, Warren P. Kujawa and Jay M. Cantor 52 us. c1. ..101/3s9, 101/287, 101/354 [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. ..B4lf 1/46, B4lf 1/52 A reciprocable inking mechanism for applying ink to [58] Field of Search 101/287, 292, 293-295, the printing surface of a printing die plate in a postage metering device. An ink impregnated roller is moved to and fro across the face of the die plate with each operation of the metering device. The inking roller moves in a linear path under control of a rotary drive mechanism.

12 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHARZO 1975 SHEET 2 BF m UE IN KING DEVICE FOR A PLANAR PRINTING DIE PLATE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to inking systems and more particularly to an inking system in which an inking roller passes from a normally inoperative position across the indicium die plate of a postage meter and then returns to its initial position. During each metering operation and following the extent of movement of the inking roller in one direction, the inking roller becomes inactive until a printed impression is taken from the die plate. Thereafter, the inking roller returns to its normally inoperative position.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the prior art inking systems, the inking roller is moved across the face of the printing die plate with the rocking of a hand crank as described in US. Pat. No. 3 ,422,699, issued to John M. Reus. As the inking roller clears the die plate, the printing takes place and the hand crank is then returned to its normally inactive position, restoring the inking roller to its normal position of rest. In the use of this system, the straight line movement, or reciprocation of the inking roller, can only be accomplished by an oscillatory motion of a crank arm. The problem of linear motion of the inking roller becomes more complex when such motion must be derived from a rotary motion, such as that produced by the rotatable output shaft of the motor employed in present automatic postage metering devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide an improved inking device wherein a linear reciprocatory motion of the inking roller relative to the printing die plate is derived from a rotary motion.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an inking system for a planar die plate wherein a rotary drive means effects an oscillatory motion of a member to control reciprocation of an inking roller across the printing surface of the die plate.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved system for applying ink for a printing die plate wherein a rotary drive motion effects a reciprocatory movement of the inking roller in a linear path by means of a pinion and complementary racks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view showing the drive mechanism for the inking roller;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 1; 1

FIG. 3 is a frontal elevational view of the inking roller control mechanism; and

FIG. 4 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 1 showing the inking roller in the actuated position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention is shown as being embodied in a postage printing device having a fragmentary outer machine profile, generally indicated by phantom line in FIG. I. Across the width of the front of the machine is a throat 11 within which envelopes or other matter to be postmarked are placed. Supported within the framework of the machine and operatively disposed in the upper portion of the throat 11 is a postage indicium die plate 12 having a horizontally disposed planar printing surface 13. Each printing operation of the machine is effected by a suitable platen (not shown) which is normally at rest in the lower portion of the machine directly below the die plate 12. The platen is adapted to be raised upwardly in a well-known manner to press the article to be printed into engagement with the printing surface 13 of the die plate 12.

Immediately prior to each printing operation, a supply of ink is applied to the printing surface 13 of the die plate 12. For this purpose, an ink impregnated roller 14 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) is provided and is secured on a shaft 15 rotatably supported at its ends in respective end members 16 and 17 of a tray 18. The tray 18 with ink roller 14 is moved in a linear path parallel to the printing surface 13 of the die plate 12 and, as the tray moves, the roller 14 passes over the face of the die plate in contact therewith to leave a deposit of ink. In order to guide the tray 18 in its path of movement, each end member 16 and 17 is extended angularly upwardly and carries rollers 19 and 20, respectively, disposed for movement in the channel of respective U-shaped brackets 21 and 22, secured on respective parallel frame members 23 and 24.

Normally, the tray 18 and its inking roller 14 are retained in the at rest position shown in FIG. 1 wherein the roller is disposed along the front edge of the die plate 12 and the tray 18 is in a position serving to prevent the taking of a fraudulent impression. In order to control the linear movement of the ink roller 14 in its path of travel, the rearward, or right-hand, wall 28 of the tray 18 (FIGS. 1 and 2) is secured to a lateral extension 29 of a hook-shaped arm 30 by any suitable means such as rivets 31.

Upon initiation of a postage metering and printing operation, a motor 32 (FIG. 2) is energized to impart a single revolution to a main drive shaft 33 for each printing operation. Motor 32 is secured on a machine base 34 and is drivingly connected through a speed reducer 35 to a single-cycle clutch, generally indicated at 36. Clutch 36 serves in a well-known manner to control the rotation of a driving gear 37 secured on a shaft 38 journalled in side frame member 24. Driving gear 37 is enmeshed with an identical gear 39, secured on the drive shaft 33 which is suitably journalled at its respective ends in side frame members 23 and 24. Intermediate its ends, the shaft 33 is suitably journalled in a pair of identical upright plates 40 and 41 secured at their lower end to respective brackets 42 and 43, by means of bolts 44 and spacers 45. Spacers 45 and a pair of shoulder pins 46 serve to maintain a parallel relationship between the plates 40 and 41, each of the pins 46 serving as a bearing support for a roller 47. Brackets 42 I and 43 are securedto the base plate 34 by any suitable means such as bolts 48. A perpendicular relationship of the plates 40 and 41 relative to the base plate 34 is maintained by the engagement of the upper end of the plates 40, 41 in a notch 49 in the lower edge of a transverse frame member 50, secured in place between upright frame members 23 and 24. The top edge 54 of the hook end portion of the arm 30 is parallel with the lower edge 55 thereof and serves by engagement with rollers 47 to guide arm 30 in its linear movement.

With each cycle of printing operation of the machine, i.e., for each revolution of the drive shaft 33, the oscillation to and fro of a cam follower lever 56 is effected to cause the reciprocation of the inking roller 14. The spacing between the upright plates 40 and 41 is sufficient only to accommodate the cam follower lever 56, which is rockable at its lower end on a pin 57 supported in each of plates 40 and 41. Intermediate its ends, the cam follower lever 56 is provided with a distended portion 58, having a clearance aperture 59 therein for drive shaft 33. The distended portion 58 of the lever 56 carries opposed cam follower rollers 60 and 61 mounted on opposite sides of the lever 56, roller 60 projecting through a suitable opening 78 in plate 40 and roller 61 projecting through a similar opening in plate 41. Rollers 60 and 61 are cooperatively related to a pair of complementary cams, roller 60 engaging cam 62 and roller 61 engaging cam 63. Each of the cams 62 and 63 is secured on main drive shaft 33 adjacent respective plates 40 and 41.

The upper end 64 of the cam follower lever 56 is offset and extends through a suitable aperture 65 in the upright plate 40 parallel to the plate. At its extremity, the offset end portion 64 of the cam follower lever 56 is provided with a laterally projecting pin 66 rotatably supporting a pinion 67 having a length sufficient to span both plates 40 and 41. The pin 66 is extended (FIGS. 2 and 3) and supports one end of a spring 68 the other end of which is secured in the framework of the machine, spring 68 serving to bias cam follower lever 56 in a clockwise direction from the normal at rest position, as seen in FIG. 1. A clip 69 (FIG. 3) is engaged in an annular slot in the end portion of the pin 66 and serves to retain pinion 67 in place. During the initial 90 clockwise rotation of the cam 63 (FIG. 1), the cam follower lever arm 56 is rocked clockwise from the normal position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG. 4. The pinion 67 is retained in this rocked position by the cam 63, during approximately 210 rotation of the shaft 33. In this rocked position, the cam 63 serves to retain inking roller 14 to the right of the throat 11 (FIG. 4) and out of the vertical path of movement of the platen to enable the movement of an article to be printed into printing contact with the indicium die plate 12.

In order to control the movement of the hook-shaped arm for the traverse of the tray 18 with the inking roller 14 in a linear path, each of the upright plates and 41 is provided with an arcuate opening 73 and 74, respectively, within each of which pinion 67 is disposed. The center line of the arcuate opening 73 and 74 has as its center the axis of pin 57. Along the lower edge of each of the openings 73 and 74, a series of rack teeth, such as teeth 75 in FIG. 1, are formed and are enmeshed with the teeth of the pinion 67, so that as the cam follower lever 56 is oscillated, rotation is imparted to the pinion 67. Along the upper inside edge of the hooklike portion 76 of the arm 30, arcuate rack teeth 77 are formed. The radius of the pitch line or one-half the pitch diameter of rack teeth 77, herein represented as PD, l2, is equivalent to the radius of the pitch line or one-half the pitch diameter of the rack teeth 75, represented as PD 2, plus the pitch diameter of the pinion 67, represented as PD The internal arcuate teeth 77 are enmeshed with the pinion 67 at a point diametrically opposed to the point of enmeshed engagement ofthe pinion with rack teeth 75.

In operation, as the cam follower lever 56 is rocked clockwise by cam 63 from the normal at rest position shown in FIG. 1, to the position shown in FIG. 4, pinion 67, in moving over arcuate rack teeth 75, rotates in a clockwise direction and serves to move the arm 30 along with tray 18 and ink roller 14 to the right from its position shown in FIG. 1 to that shown in FIG. 4. A dwell of approximately 210 of the cam 63 serves to retain the arm 30 in the right hand position in FIG. 4 to enable a printing operation. At the end of the dwell, cam 62 effects a counter-clockwise rocking of the cam follower lever 56 during which pinion 67 becomes effective to return arm 30 to its normal at rest position shown in FIG. 1, against the influence of the relatively strong spring 68. It becomes apparent, therefore, that with each revolution or printing cycle of rotation of shaft 33, inking roller 14 is moved in a linear path across the face of the indicia die plate 12 to deposit a film of ink thereon. The roller 14 is then moved beyond the indicium die plate to a position such that an article to be printed may be moved by the platen into printing contact with the printing surface of the die plate 12. Immediately thereafter, the platen with the printed article is restored to the inactive position thereof and inking roller 14 is likewise returned in its linear path to the normal at rest position seen in FIG. 1. Thereupon, the printing cycle is terminated.

What is claimed is:

1. In a printing machine having a framework,

a cyclically operable drive means,

a planar printing die plate mounted in said framework,

an inking roller for applying ink to the printing surface of said die plate, and

means for moving said inking roller over the printing surface of said die plate, the combination comprising,

means supporting said inking roller for linear movement relative to said die plate,

a series of rack teeth associated with said supporting means,

a gear control means enmeshed with said series of rack teeth and rotatable to effect movement of said supporting means, and

means driven by said cyclically operable drive means for causing rotation of said gear means in each of two directions upon each cycle of operation of said drive means;

said supporting means including a bracket means mounted in said framework,

an arm supported by said bracket means for reciprocatory movement and having said series of rack teeth formed thereon, and

means rotatably supporting said inking roller and connected to said arm for movement therewith upon rotation of said gear control means;

said bracket means including a pair of plates mounted in spaced parallel relationship in said framework for guiding said arm in its movement,

spacer means disposed between said pair of plates supporting said arm for movement therebetween, and

a pair of toothed racks, one for each of said plates formed thereon complementary to said series of rack teeth and enmeshed with said gear control means for controlling rotation of said gear control means to move said arm upon operation of said driven means.

2. In a device of the character described in claim 1 wherein said gear control means comprises a pinion enmeshed with said series of rack teeth and said toothed racks, and

a lever rockably mounted between said pair of plates and rotatably supporting said pinion, said lever being rocked to and fro by said driven means during each cycle of operation of said cyclically operable drive means.

3. In a device of the character described in claim 2 wherein said driven means comprises a shaft driven by said cyclically operable drive means,

a pair of complementary cams carried by said shaft,

and

a pair of rollers mounted on said lever, one for each of said cams adapted for engagement therewith to control the rocking of said lever.

4. In a device of the character'described in claim 3 wherein one of said pair of cams controls the rocking of said lever in one direction followed by a dwell of the order of about 210 and the other of said cams controls the return of said lever in the other direction upon cyclic rotation of said shaft.

5. In a postage metering machine having a framework,

a cyclically operable drive means,

a planar printing die plate mounted framework,

an inking roller for applying ink to the printing surface of said die plate, and

means for controlling the movement of said inking roller over the printing surface of said die plate the combination comprising,

means supporting said inking roller for linear movement relative to said die plate,

means mounted in said framework for guiding said supporting means in its path of travel,

means for controlling movement of said supporting means including a complementary series of rack teeth, one series of rack teeth being formed on said guiding means and the other series of rack teeth being formed on said supporting means in opposed relationship to said one series of rack teeth,

a rockable means including a pinion interposed between and enmeshed with each of said series of rack teeth in diametral opposition, and

means driven by said cyclically operable drive means for rocking said rockable means whereby said pinion is caused to rotate by said one series of rack teeth to move said supporting means.

in said 6. In a device of the character described in claim 5 wherein each of said series of rack teeth is arcuate in form and wherein the radius of the pitch line of said other of said series of rack teeth is equivalent to the sum of the radius of the pitch line of said one of said series of rack teeth and the pitch diameter of said pinion as represented by the equation said pinion being movable in an arcuate path between said series of rack teeth upon rocking of said rockable means. 7. In a device of the character described in claim 5 wherein said guiding means comprises a bracket mounted in said framework.

8. In a device of the character described in claim 7 wherein said bracket comprises a pair of spaced parallel plates,

each of said plates including a said one series of rack teeth formed thereon, and

a pair of rollers disposed in place between said plates for guiding the movement of said supporting means in its path of travel.

9. In a device of the character described in claim 8 wherein the movement of said supporting means is a reciprocative motion by said rockable means upon each operation of said driven means.

10. In a device of the character described in claim 8 wherein said rockable means comprises a lever supported for rocking motion between said plates having said pinion mounted thereon for rotation between said complementary series of rack teeth,

said lever being rocked to and fro by said driven means upon each cycle of operation of said cyclically operable drive means.

1 1. In a device of the character described in claim 10 wherein said driven means comprises a shaft cyclically rotatable by said drive means, and

a pair of complementary cams mounted on said shaft, one of said cams controlling the rocking movement of said lever and said pinion in one direction and the other of said cams controlling the rocking movement of said lever and said pinion in the other direction upon each rotation of said shaft.

12. In a device of the character described in claim 1 1 wherein said pinion is moved along said one series of rack teeth for rotation thereby upon movement of said lever in each direction, said pinion being enmeshed with the said other of said series of rack teeth to move said supporting means in a direction corresponding to the direction of rocking movement of said lever. 

1. In a printing machine having a framework, a cyclically operable drive means, a planar printing die plate mounted in said framework, an inking roller for applying ink to the printing surface of said die plate, and means for moving said inking roller over the printing surface of said die plate, the combination comprising, means supporting said inking roller for linear movement relative to said die plate, a series of rack teeth associated with said supporting means, a gear control means enmeshed with said series of rack teeth and rotatable to effect movement of said supporting means, and means driven by said cyclically operable drive means for causing rotation of said gear means in each of two directions upon each cycle of operation of said drive means; said supporting means including a bracket means mounted in said framework, an arm supported by said bracket means for reciprocatory movement and having said series of rack teeth formed thereon, and means rotatably supporting said inking roller and connected to said arm for movement therewith upon rotation of said gear control means; said bracket means including a pair of plates mounted in spaced parallel relationship in said framework for guiding said arm in its movement, spacer means disposed between said pair of plates supporting said arm for movement therebetween, and a pair of toothed racks, one for each of said plates formed thereon complementary to said series of rack teeth and enmeshed with said gear control means for controlling rotation of said gear control means to move said arm upon operation of said driven means.
 2. In a device of the character described in claim 1 wherein said gear control means comprises a pinion enmeshed with said series of rack teeth and said toothed racks, and a lever rockably mounted between said pair of plates and rotatably supporting said pinion, said lever being rocked to and fro by said driven means during each cycle of operation of said cyclically operable drive means.
 3. In a device of the character described in claim 2 wherein said driven means comprises a shaft driven by said cyclically operable drive means, a pair of complementary cams carried by said shaft, and a pair of rollers mounted on said lever, one for each of said cams adapted for engagement therewith to control the rocking of said lever.
 4. In a device of the character described in claim 3 wherein one of said pair of cams controls the rocking of said lever in one direction followed by a dwell of the order of about 210* and the other of said cams controls the return of said lever in the other direction upon cyclic rotation of said shaft.
 5. In a postage metering machine having a framework, a cyclically operable drive means, a planar printing die plate mounted in said framework, an inking roller for applying ink to the printing surface of said die plate, and means for controlling the movement of said inking roller over the printing surface of said die plate the combination comprising, means supporting said inking roller for linear movement relative to said die plate, means mounted in said framework for guiding said supporting means in its path of travel, means for controlling movement of said supporting means including a complementAry series of rack teeth, one series of rack teeth being formed on said guiding means and the other series of rack teeth being formed on said supporting means in opposed relationship to said one series of rack teeth, a rockable means including a pinion interposed between and enmeshed with each of said series of rack teeth in diametral opposition, and means driven by said cyclically operable drive means for rocking said rockable means whereby said pinion is caused to rotate by said one series of rack teeth to move said supporting means.
 6. In a device of the character described in claim 5 wherein each of said series of rack teeth is arcuate in form and wherein the radius of the pitch line of said other of said series of rack teeth is equivalent to the sum of the radius of the pitch line of said one of said series of rack teeth and the pitch diameter of said pinion as represented by the equation (PD1/2) (PD2/2) + PD3, said pinion being movable in an arcuate path between said series of rack teeth upon rocking of said rockable means.
 7. In a device of the character described in claim 5 wherein said guiding means comprises a bracket mounted in said framework.
 8. In a device of the character described in claim 7 wherein said bracket comprises a pair of spaced parallel plates, each of said plates including a said one series of rack teeth formed thereon, and a pair of rollers disposed in place between said plates for guiding the movement of said supporting means in its path of travel.
 9. In a device of the character described in claim 8 wherein the movement of said supporting means is a reciprocative motion by said rockable means upon each operation of said driven means.
 10. In a device of the character described in claim 8 wherein said rockable means comprises a lever supported for rocking motion between said plates having said pinion mounted thereon for rotation between said complementary series of rack teeth, said lever being rocked to and fro by said driven means upon each cycle of operation of said cyclically operable drive means.
 11. In a device of the character described in claim 10 wherein said driven means comprises a shaft cyclically rotatable by said drive means, and a pair of complementary cams mounted on said shaft, one of said cams controlling the rocking movement of said lever and said pinion in one direction and the other of said cams controlling the rocking movement of said lever and said pinion in the other direction upon each rotation of said shaft.
 12. In a device of the character described in claim 11 wherein said pinion is moved along said one series of rack teeth for rotation thereby upon movement of said lever in each direction, said pinion being enmeshed with the said other of said series of rack teeth to move said supporting means in a direction corresponding to the direction of rocking movement of said lever. 